# 78: Training Social Animals in a Group with One Trainer with SK Ivkovich, Dolphin Research Center

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/animal-behavior-conversations-the-podcast-of-the-abma-6055377/78-training-social-animals-in-a-group-with-one-trainer-with-sk-ivkovich-dolphin-research-center
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/animal-behavior-conversations-the-podcast-of-the-abma-6055377/78-training-social-animals-in-a-group-with-one-trainer-with-sk-ivkovich-dolphin-research-center.md
Podcast: [Animal Behavior Conversations: The Podcast of The ABMA](https://stenobird.com/podcast/animal-behavior-conversations-the-podcast-of-the-abma-6055377)
Published: 2026-06-26T09:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theabmapodcast/episodes/78-Training-Social-Animals-in-a-Group-with-One-Trainer-with-SK-Ivkovich--Dolphin-Research-Center-e3l9smg
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/d9199a04/podcast/play/122007696/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-5-26%2Fa8f7ad1c-47c4-f7ed-958a-74a3f9eb2e3d.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/animal-behavior-conversations-the-podcast-of-the-abma-6055377/episodes/78-training-social-animals-in-a-group-with-one-trainer-with-sk-ivkovich-dolphin-research-center
Duration seconds: 3824

## Resource

This episode SK Ivkovich, Dolphin Research Center, provides some great learning and advice for training social animals in a group with one trainer. This podcast is a companion to SK’s presentation at the 2026 ABMA-IAATE annual conference titled “Three’s a Crowd? Benefits of Training Social Animals in a Multi-Animal Group with One Trainer”. SK starts the discussion by advocating for the many benefits, to both animals and humans, of training social animals in a group. SK also focuses on the importance of focusing on the individual in the group and the role of the social hierarchy. The episode finishes on some advice for how to get started training social animals in a group. Stay tuned in for SK’s "Training Tale" about DRC’s new harbor seals! For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠ abc@theabma.org ⁠ and to reach SK email sarah.ivkovich@dolphins.org To learn more about the Dolphin Research Center’s Professional Animal Trainer Program visit https://dolphins.org/drcti_professional_trainer_certificate_program and to learn more about the Dolphin Academy Program visit https://dolphins.org/drcti_professional_trainer_certificate_program 3:15 Introduction to SK Ivkovich 4:50 Information on Dolphin Research Center’s Professional Animal Trainer Program and Dolphin Academy Program 10:15 The benefits of training social animals in a group 18:00 The benefits to the trainers 22:10 How to focus on each individual while training in a group 25:50 The role of social hierarchy 39:50 Advice for starting a session with multiple animals 48:55 Bridging animals in a group 57:00 “Training Tale”

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